Fontes Responds to Trump Executive Order Attacking Vote By Mail 

PHOENIX – “Arizona operates as the gold standard for election administration, requiring documented proof of citizenship (DPOC) at the time of registration and voter ID at the polls. This Executive Order is a disgusting overreach from the federal government and shows how little the Trump Administration understands about election administration. States already deploy rigorous voter roll maintenance efforts to ensure that our elections are safe and secure. Arizona receives DPOC from voters including birth certificates and Native American Tribal ID that is not accurately reflected by SAVE's flawed database. States run elections and understand what must be done to protect every eligible voter, the federal government does not.

This move is nothing more than a push to weaponize the sensitive personal information of voters in this country, an effort my office will continue to fight unrelentingly. Donald Trump is attempting to pick his desired list of voters in each state with the Social Security Administration's help. The presidential action would require that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) only send absentee ballots to those on each state's approved mail-in ballot list—upending our vote by mail system currently serving 80% of Arizona’s voters. My office is actively working with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and her team. We will not let this order stand without a fight and will meet the federal government in court to protect the right to vote for every Arizonan.”